A Prototype Willingness Approach to the Relation Between Geo-social Dating Apps and Willingness to Sext with Dating App Matches

Abstract

Despite voiced concerns about sexual online risk behaviors related to mobile dating, little is known about the relation between mobile dating and sexting. The current crosssectional study (N = 286) examined the relations between the use of geo-social dating apps and emerging adults' willingness to sext with a dating app match. By drawing on the prototype willingness model, both a reasoned path and a social reaction path are proposed to explain this link. As for the reasoned path, a structural equation model showed that more frequent dating app usage positively related to norm beliefs about peers' sexting behaviors with unknown dating app matches (i.e., descriptive norms), norm beliefs about peers' approval of sexting with matches (i.e., subjective norms), and negatively related to perceptions of danger to sext with matches (i.e., risk attitude). In turn, descriptive norms positively and risk attitudes negatively associated to individuals' own willingness to sext with someone they had met through a dating app. As for the social reaction path, it was found that more frequent dating app usage positively related to emerging adults' favorable evaluations of a prototype person who sexts with unknown dating app matches (i.e., prototype perceptions). The analyses further revealed that such prototype perceptions positively linked with emerging adults' own willingness to sext with a match. These results were similar among women and men and help explain why individuals may be willing to engage in sexting behavior with unknown others.

Sexting during social isolation: Predicting sexting-related privacy management during the COVID-19 pandemic

“…We asked for sexting frequency during the preceding weeks, that is, during the first introduction of pandemic mitigation measures in Austria (end of April until the beginning of May 2020). Based on prior sexting research (Drouin et al, 2013;Schreurs et al, 2020), we measured asynchronous sexting frequency using six items asking participants to indicate on a scale from 1 (never) to 7 (very often) how often in the preceding weeks they had sent sexy texts, sexy audio messages, a picture of themselves in underwear or swimwear, a naked picture, a video of themselves in underwear or swimwear, or a naked video, respectively (M = 1.91, SD = 1.14, α = .85).…”

The role of sexting and related behaviors to victimization via nonconsensual pornography: an exploratory analysisof university students

“…It is imperative to consider the connection between these popular online behaviors (sexting and use of dating apps) and the relationship to victimization via nonconsensual pornography. Schreurs et al (2020) found individuals are more likely to participate in sexting via a dating app match if they experience positive views from others who also participate in the behavior. While peer support was not measured in this study, the results in this study indicate a strong support for sexting among this sample; hence, the impact of peer support for this activity warrants further inquiry.…”

Love in the Time of Corona: Predicting Willingness to Engage in Sexting During the First COVID-19-Related Lockdown

“…Digital media provide extensive opportunities, for example using video calls, to feel close to each other.” Then we asked participants how likely it is that they engage in six online activities (from 1 = “very unlikely” to 7 = “very likely”): “send sexy text messages,” “send sexy audio messages,” “send a photo of myself in underwear or swimwear,” “send a naked photo of myself,” “send a video of myself in underwear or swimwear,” and “send a video in which I am naked” (Cronbach’s α = 0.86; M = 3.15; SD = 1.62). We based our items on Drouin et al ( 2013 ) as well as on Schreurs et al ( 2020 ).…”

“…Following the prototype willingness model of sexual risk behaviors (Gerrard et al, 2005 ; Gibbons & Gerrard, 1995 ), many studies on sexting (e.g., Schreurs et al, 2020 ; van Oosten & Vandenbosch, 2017 , 2020 ; Walrave et al, 2015 ) or other sexual behaviors (Boot et al, 2016 ) focus on behavioral willingness instead of actual sexual behavior. One reason is that only three in seven individuals engage in sexting (Mori et al, 2020 ) but more people may be willing to if the situation presents itself.…”